Wilderness Survival Shelters

Why build a shelter? A shelter can protect you from the sun, insects, wind, rain, snow, hot or cold temperatures, and enemy observation. It can give you a feeling of well-being. It can help you maintain your will to survive. In some areas, your need for shelter may take precedence over your need for food and possibly even your need for water.

For example, prolonged exposure to cold can cause excessive fatigue and weakness (exhaustion). An exhausted person may develop a "passive" outlook, thereby losing the will to survive. The most common error in making a shelter is to make it too large. A shelter must be large enough to protect you. It must also be small enough to contain your body heat, especially in cold climates.

SHELTER SITE SELECTION When considering shelter site selection, use the word BLISS as a guide. B - Blend in with the surroundings. L - Low silhouette. I - Irregular shape. S - Small. S - Secluded location.

TYPES OF SHELTERS When looking for a shelter site, keep in mind the type of shelter (protection) you need. However, you must also consider-- How much time and effort you need to build the shelter. If the shelter will adequately protect you from the elements (sun, wind, rain, snow). If you have the tools to build it. If not, can you make improvised tools? If you have the type and amount of materials needed to build it. To answer these questions, you need to know how to make various types of shelters and what materials you need to make them.

Takes minimal time and equipment. Poncho 2-3m of rope or parachute line Stakes (3, 30m long) 2 trees/ 2 poles approx. 2-3m apart Make sure to check wind direction. You want the wind behind your shelter.

Poncho Tent

Pros of the poncho tent.  Provides a low silhouette  Protects you from the elements on both sides. Cons  Less usable and observation space than lean to thus decreasing reaction time from enemy detection

Three-Pole Parachute Tepee  Protection from the elements.  Can act as a signaling device by enhancing a small amount of light from a fire or candle.  Large enough to hold several people and their equipment and to allow sleeping, cooking, and storing firewood.

Debris Hut For warmth and ease of construction, this shelter is one of the best. When shelter is essential to survival, build this shelter.

Tree-Pit Snow Shelter If you are in a cold, snow-covered area where evergreen trees grow and you have a digging tool, you can make a tree-pit shelter

Dig into a drift of firm snow to make a "cave". Make use of the fact that warm air rises and cold air sinks. Make your shelter on 3 levels. Build a SMALL fire on the highest level sleep in the middle level allow the low area to trap cold air. Use a stick or ice axe to force two holes in the roof, one to allow smoke to escape another to provide ventilation fit a packed block of snow to the door or build a wind block

Tree-Pit Snow Shelter If you are in a cold, snow-covered area where evergreen trees grow and you have a digging tool, you can make a tree-pit shelter